France is 6th PH ‘visiting forces’ partner 

PACT SEALED IN PARIS. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin of France show the documents they have signed formalizing the visiting forces agreement (VFA) between the two countries. Signed in Paris, the pact is the country’s first VFA with a European nation.—DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and France signed a visiting forces agreement (VFA) in Paris on Thursday, setting the legal framework for joint military activities as Manila expands its defense partnerships amid continuing tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin formalized the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (Sovfa), which governs the presence of troops in each other’s territory during exercises, training and other cooperative activities.

Teodoro said the deal was concluded “in record time,” just a year after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. authorized negotiations.

Joint naval drills

It was the country’s first VFA with a European country, and followed the agreements earlier forged with four other countries: the United States (1999), Australia (2007), New Zealand (2025), and Canada (2025). A similar arrangement was signed with Japan in 2024, known as a Reciprocal Access Agreement.

Negotiations for a VFA with the United Kingdom are ongoing.

The French navy has previously taken part in joint drills in the South China Sea alongside Philippine and US vessels, while the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle made its first port visit to Subic Bay in February last year.

READ: West PH Sea: UK visiting forces pact seen as clear support for PH claim

The agreement with France was signed hours after the Philippine military accused China of conducting “dangerous maneuvers” in the contested waterway.

Still to be ratified by the countries’ legislatures, it would allow for greater cooperation with French ground forces, which have previously taken part as observers in the annual US-Philippine “Balikatan” military exercises.“ We were able to reach this stage in record time,” Teodoro said in a speech during the signing, attributing the milestone to “years of trust and confidence” between the two countries.

READ: PH, French military hold drills in West Philippine Sea

Upholding int’l law

He said the pact was aimed at “enhancing both our individual and collective defense capabilities,” as well as strengthening cooperation across regions.

Teodoro also framed the agreement as part of a wider effort to uphold international law.

“It is … also equally important … to protecting the international order under the regime of international law,” he said, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

Both sides reaffirmed support for Unclos and the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.

Teodoro said the agreement reflected the need for “cross-regional cooperation” in addressing security challenges, adding that countries can work “for a shared goal and purpose” even in different areas of operation.

The deal builds on a 2023 agreement to deepen defense cooperation, which has included exchanges, port visits and joint training activities. —With a report from AFP